Patent GB-618769-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to pressing machines for shirts and like garments
IPC: D06F71/20
Filed: 1945-10-19
Abstract: 618,769. Ironing-presses. COUCH, F. J. Oct. 19, 1945, No. 27500. [Class 138(ii)] Apparatus for ironing shirts or the like comprises a frame 1, movable pressing means supported by the frame at an ironing station, a rotatable turret 5 carrying a plurality of movable shirt-holding forms 6, 7 and adapted to move the forms from a dressing station to the ironing station, means for applying the pressing elements to the form, and automatic control means for causing a cycle of operation of the turret and pressing means. General arrangement.- The frame 1 comprises, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, two pillars 2, 3 and a cross-bar 4, the pillar 2 providing the mount for the rotary turret 5. In Fig. 1, the form 6 is shown in dressing position, and the form 7 is at the ironing station, where it is adapted to be acted upon by the pressing means in the form of back and front chests 8, 9, both of which, or the chest 9 alone, may be movable. As shown, the forms 6, 7 are mounted on carriages 25 movable radially on the turret 5, so that when a form is in pressing position, the chest 9 advances against the form and moves the latter into position for pressure engagement by the chest 8. A backyoke ironer 12 is also provided for ironing the parts around the collar when the garment to be pressed is at the dressing station. The automatic operation of the apparatus is controlled by a number of valves in a fluid-pressure system comprising a number of fluidpressure motors. Construction and d arrangement of forms 6, 7.-The turret 5 is provided with radiallydisposed tracks 23 which receive the carriages 25, and springs 26 provided on rods 27 act on the carriages of both forms in order to urge them to the outermost positions on the tracks. Each form 6, 7 consists of a hollow body 67, Figs. 7 and 9, provided along its side edges with slots 68 for the passage of side wings 69 for stretching the garment on the form. The form is provided with a rubber sheath 70 having a covering 71, and the side wings 69, which are interchangeable, consist of a cloth covering on a meshwork structure 73. Each side wing is removably and flexibly mounted in the body 67 by links 77, 81, 84, 85, so as to be capable of movement through the slots 68. The initial movement of the wings is effected by a handle 89 which is fixed on a shaft 83 and cooperates with friction means for releasably holding the wings in any adjusted position. Operation of the handle 89 produces a gentle stretching action on the garment, the final stretching being provided, when the form is at the pressing station, by the co-operation of a lever 90 on the shaft 83 with a plunger 92, Fig. 13, which is operated from a cylinder 19 in the pressure-fluid system. A second fluid-pressure motor 20 acts through lever mechanism to retract the wings when the form is at the dressing station. The form is also provided with fasteners 107 at the lower end for gripping the cover cloth of the form, and with a releasable clamp for fastening the tail of the garment being pressed. The upper end of the form is fitted with a collar block 127 which is perforated for the passage of heated air supplied from a heater 16, Fig. 1, in the base of the machine. For holding the collar in position, a thin strip 129 is movable downwardly by a handle 137 into co-operation with the collar on the block 127. The operation of the handle 137 also acts, through a slide rod 124 and bell-crank 122, to move two shirt-arm supports 118, 119 outwardly. Turret-operating means.-Rotation of the turret is effected automatically and intermittently by the piston rod 145 of a fluidpressure motor 22, which is included in the fluid-pressure system, as shown in Figs. 2 and 13. Outward movement of the piston rod 145 causes a block 146 thereon to apply an impact to an arm 151 disposed beneath the form 7 then at the pressing station, whereupon the turret rotates through 180 degrees so that the arm 151 of the second form 6 comes into position behind the block 146, which is pivotally mounted to permit this movement. As the turret reaches its new position, a pivotallymounted and spring-pressed brake shoe 156 engages a plate 155 on the machine frame as shown in Fig. 1. The turret is finally registered with the form 6 in pressing position by mechanism in the form of spring-controlled pivoted blocks 162 on the machine frame co-operating with a lug 172 on the carriage 25 of the form 6. Construction and operation of chests 8, 9 and yoke ironer 12.-Each of the chests 8, 9 comprises a hollow chamber 173, Fig. 9, which is shaped on its inner face for engagement with the opposed face of the form and wings 69, and receives steam for heating the chest. Heated air is passed to the side seams of the garments from a chamber 176 which is disposed outside the chamber 173 by means of a metal wall 178 having side extensions 179 forming lips 180 lying close to the side seams of the wings. The air is supplied from a fan 13 and heater 16, Fig. 1, under the control of a damper 183 adapted to be opened automatically when a carriage 25 reaches the pressing station, so that the air then passes to a conduit 187 on the carriage; when the chest 9 is advanced on the form, the inlet of a conduit 195 in the chest registers with the outlet of the conduit 187, and air passes to the chamber 176 and the side seams of the garment. The chest 9 is suspended by a pair of rods 30, Figs. 1 and 2, from a hanger 31 which slides along the cross-bar 4, the pressing movement of the chest being effected by straightening a pair of toggle links 32, 34 which are connected between the chest and a shaft 35 on the pillar 3. The toggle is moved to straightened position against the action of a spring 44 by the engagement of a gear segment 36 on the shaft 35 with a rack 37 on the piston rod 38 of a fluid-pressure motor 10 in the fluid-pressure system. The motor 10 comprises, as shown in Fig. 13, two pistons 61, 62, of which the smaller 61 first comes into action and, through its piston rod 64, moves the second piston 62 and rack 37 so as to straighten the toggle links. As the piston 61 reaches the end of its stroke, the movement of the chest is momentarily stopped when it just contacts the form 7, and then the opening of a valve 65 causes pressure-fluid to act directly upon the second piston 62 so as to move both the chest 9 and form 7 into engagement with the chest 8. The chest 8 is pivotally mounted on an arm 54, Fig. 1, which is pivoted at 55 to a bracket 56 on the pillar 2. The forked upper end of the arm 54 embraces the cross-bar 4, and is engaged to apply heavy pressure to the form 7 by a piston 58 which slides on the cross-bar 4 and is movable in a cylinder 11 included in the fluid-pressure system. A spring 59 retracts the chest 8 when pressure is released, and aligning and bumper springs 57, 60 are also provided. The yoke ironer 12 comprises a hollow ironing shoe 203 which is adapted to fit around the collar of the garment and is heated by steam. The shoe, which is carried by links 206 from a bracket 207 on the pillar 2, is biased to ironing position by springs 211, being adapted to be retracted by the piston rod 210 of a motor 21 in the fluid-pressure system. Control system.-The complete operation of the machine, apart from the dressing of the shirt on the form and its removal therefrom, is controlled automatically by motor-driven timer mechanism which is included in a casing 17 on the pillar 3 for controlling the operation of various valves in the pressure fluid system shown in Fig. 13. The timing mechanism includes adjustable cams 268, 274 which are adapted to be driven at the required speed by a timing motor. Operation of machine.-Assuming that a finished garment has just been removed from the form 6, the cam 274 then allows a lever 273 to actuate a valve 256, whereby the cylinder 20 is evacuated and the side wings 69 are retracted. A garment is then dressed on the form 6, with its arms on the rods 118, 119, and the strip 129 is clamped on to the collar by operation of the handle 137, which also extends the rods 118, 119. Depression of the treadle 244 has the effect of closing a valve 226 in order to evacuate the cylinder 21 and permit the springs 211 to press the yoke ironer 12 into pressing position. After securing the lower end of the garment by the tail clamp, the lever 89 is operated to extend the side wings 69. At this time, the cam 268, which is being rotated continuously by the timing- motor, operates a lever 267 so as to close a valve 255, whereby the cylinders 10, 11 are evacuated, the chests 8, 9 withdrawn from the form 7, and the springs 26 return the form 7 to its outermost position. When the chest 9 has completed its opening movement, the cam 235 causes the lever 234 to actuate a valve 233 so as, first, to energize the cylinder 21 in order to retract the yoke ironer 12, and, second, to energize the cylinder 22 for rotating the turret 5. When the form 6 arrives in pressing position, a roller 249 on the turret actuates a valve 224, so as to supply fluid pressure to the valves 253, 255, 256. The cam 268 then causes the lever 267 to open the valve 255 so as to energize the cylinder 10, whereby the chest 9 moves into engagement with the form and advances the latter into position for pressure engagement by the chest 8. At the time when the chest 9 reaches its final position, the cam 235 actuates the lever 257 so as to open the valve 253 and operate, through the cylinder 19 and plunger 92, the wing-extension mechanism. The chest 8 then applies heavy pressure to the form through the medium of the cylinder 11. Heated air is passed automatically to the neck-band block and the side seams of the garment when the form 6 reaches the pressure station. The form 7 is now at the dressing position, and the operator removes the finished garment therefrom, and at about the time when this operation is completed, the cam 274 opens the valve 256 so as to